Elevator safety device



Nom. 6 w23., L47347 w. H. FoYE ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVI CE Filed April 17, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "T/VVVT kf@ @im NOV. 6,1923. MKM? W. H. FoYE l ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVLGE Filed April 17, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

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ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE.

Application filed April 17, i922. Serial No. 554,013.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM H. Fora, a

citizen of the United States-of America, andv resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator Safety Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to elevators and particularly to the provision thereon of means whereby the operation of the elevator is normally prevented during the .time when the shaft gates ai'e opened. and by which the opening of the said gates cannot normally be accomplished except when the elevator is within permissible limits of variation in the level.

Another object 'is to provide a safety device of the type stated, which will not at any time a'ect the operability of the elevator except when it is near the landing positions and the shaft gate is open, thus interfering not at all with movement of the elevator withinA these relatively restricted Vlanding Zones. l

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety device which will not be wrecked by movement of the elevator up orv down while the shaft gate is open, whether this be due to a slow creeping action or stretch of Suspenders by change of loading,

f or operation with a shaft gate incompletely closed.

'The object of the invention, broadly stated, is thus to provide safety means which will prevent accidents due to operating the elevator when the gates may be open, and also to prevent opening of the gates while the elevator is within a zone near to above or below the proper' level.

My invention consists in certain attachments which are applied to the elevator car andto the shaft gates, whereby the above results may be secured.-

The object of my invention is to provide means which will secure the above results and to have such means of a simple and dependablc character which. do not cost tooV much to install and which are not liablev to get out of order.

The particular features which l believe to be new and upon which l desire to obtain a patentwill be hereinafter described and then particularly defined by the claims.v

therewith.

In the accompanying drawings l have shown my invention applied to an elevator in the type of construction which I most prefer to use.

Figure l is a side view Vshowing the eX- terior of a portion of an elevator car and the shaft gate which operates in conjunction Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the shaft gate and associated parts of the car.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the car and the sha-ft gate, showing the relationship of the various parts.

Figurewl is la view similar to Figure 3 showing the parts in a different position.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation similaito Figure 3, in which however, the parts have been mounted in somewhat Adifferent relationship. y

Figure 6 is a detail section showing the type of construction preferred for mounting 1the stop pin and its relation with the stop ars.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a part of a car and one shaft gate showing a simplified form of ther'device, which may be satisfactory for some conditions, and Figure 8 lis a diagram showing the electrical connections emplzoyed in the device illustrated Vin Figure The chief features of my 'invention concern the use of a stop fingeri'n combination with a stop bar or bars, carried respectively one by the car and the other bythe shaft gate. Of the stop bars, one extends vertically and is positioned to engage the stop finger to prevent opening of the shaftgate, unless the car lies within a predetermined zone of level, while the other stop bar eX- ten'ds horizontally and is movable towards and from the car under control of the power controller and is so positioned vertically as to cover the VZone occupied by the stop finger when the car is within the permissible limits of level for landings.

ln the accompanying drawings the device as illustrated has the stop linger upon the gate and the stop bars on the elevator car.

`The disposition of these parts shown is that which is preferred, as the duplication required for the vvarious landings is 'of the simplest. set of mechanisms, namely the stop finger.

With the above elements of my invention is or may also be employed a' mechanism whereby one of the 'stop bars is controlled in position and operationfrom the power controller'. In some cases the stop finger may be employed in connection only` with one of the stop bars. This may be either one of the stop bars, the choice depending upon the result desired. f

In the drawings l represents a portion of an elevator 'car and 2 a shaft gate by which ingress and egress from the car is controlled. The gate is, of course, duplicated for each landing. Theshaft gate 2 in the preferred form of construction has a stop pin mountedY there'iom-while the car has a stop bar or stop bars mounted so as to coact with the stop vbe dispensed with.

pin to prevent opening of the shaft gate un" less the car is within predetermined limits of level with relation to the landing. The

stop pin 3 carried byv the gate, projects vtowards the car. Its llength is suflicient that it will not engage any part of the car as the shaft gate is opened or closed, exceptingthe stop bars which have been provided for this purpose and Vwhich form a part of my invention. Y

In the more complete form of my invention two stop bars are used, one extending vertically and being fiXed in positionwith relation to the car. The other extends hori- Zontallyand 'is movable towards and from the car `under the control of the power controller by which the car is operated. Either of these may be omitted if its function may the gate whenever the car is positioned y within a certain limit of level which eX tends materially above andbelow the landing, unless the car is within a small limit wherein there is slight variation between the level of the car floor and of the landing.

A horizontally extending stop bar or plate 5 -is' mounted upon the car so as to be movable towards and from the same and is of' 'such a width and so positioned that it coversv the space "represented by the'notch 41 in thevertical stop bar 4. Normally this stop plate 5 is held close up against the side ofV the car, in which position it will not engage the stop fingerl 3 or prevent openingzof the gate. If, however, be moved outward any The vertical stop bar'.

material distance, its end extending across the gap 4l in the stop bar 4, will be engaged by the stop linger and prevent opening ofthe shaft gate. The position of the stop bary 5 is controlled by the power 'controllen through the operation of which the car is moved up vor down.

A simple and efficient manner of mounting the plate 5 is to support the same upon vertical arms G. spring character secured by their opposite ends, as 60,-to the carv whereby they may be forced outward without too much resistance and yet when unrestrained will be held close up against the side of the car. The same result may, of course, be secured by pivoting vthe bar 6 and using springs as 6l to hold the arms and the stop bar 5 against the side of the car. The manner of holding this bar for movement is immaterial.

Thestopbar 5 is of a length corresponding with or not less than the amount of travel .given the shaft gate in opening it, so that the stop linger 3 will never travel beyond the outer end of the bar 5. The stop finger 3 lies just beyond and close to both the stop bars 4 and 5 when the shaft gate is closed, so that the up and down movement of these stop bars in the operation of the car will notinterfere with the stop finger 3.

Itmay happen at times, through the slow Vup or down movement of the car after it has Y been stopped, due to applying or removing its load or from other causes, that the stop finger 3 gets above or below the stop bar 5. In this position if kthe shaft gate be closed the stop finger 3 .will engage the side of the flange 40 above or below the gap 4l. To provide `for such contingenciesandV to avoid any injury tothe parts, the stop finger 3 is pivotally mounted' upon a pin as 30 which projects from the edge of the shaft gate in the direction of movement of the gate while opening and closing. f

f This pin is also of such length as to permit horizontal movement of the stop finger 3 suflicient to accommodate the conditions above referred to, wherein the pin engages theV inner face of thefiange 40. The pivoting of the finger it may pass the stop bar 5 when the latter is projected, as it will be when the power is applied to operate the car. lWhen this happens the finger 3 will be swunglo one side and then be immediatelybrought back Vto its normal position by'means of a spring` as the spring 31 which is shown in Figure 6, or the spring 32 as shownin Figures 1,3,.4 and 5,

VBy reason of this manner of mounting the' stop pin no harm will occur in case there pin will slide along the outer surface of the fi? These arms may be of,`

3 is chiefly for the purpose Vof permitting rocking of the finger so that ioo flange i0 until it reaches the end thereof and then be returned to its normal position by the action of the springs v3l and 32.

The horizontal stop bar 5, as has been stated, is controlled in its position toward or from the car by the position of the power controller for the car.V A convenient means for doing this is illustrated in Figures 3, 4t, and 5. The operating handle through which the power is controlled is therein shown as provided with a disk or plate 7 which carries two horizontally projecting pins 70. These two pins are at the same level when the operating handle is in neutral position. They also, in such position, bear against the upper side of a horizontally extending pin 7l which is carried by a lever 72. The lever 72 is carried by a rod as 7 3 which extends, lengthwise of and between.

the stop bar 5 and the side wall of the cui'. The rod'T?) also has cam levers or blocks as 74, of such shape that when the rod 73 is turned, the rod and the stop bar 5 which is connected therewith will be moved outward from the side of the car. This carries the rod towards the outer part of the gap ell or into a position where it will be engaged by a stop pin 3. The stop bar 5 will not be held in this position eX- cept when the controller has been turned to a position to apply the power.

lIt is evident that-such action will occur whenever the controlling lever 7 is thrown Yin either direction from its neutral position.

Such action will Vcause one or the other of the pins to depress thelever v71 and thus throw the stop bar 5 outwardly. The spring action of the plates 6 will serve to return the stop bar 5 and lever 72 into its normal position close against the car, wherein the finger 3 is free to move. It follows from the above construction that whenever the finger 3 is opposite the face of the stop bar 5, as it would be if the shaft gate be open any material distance,

`the power Vcontrolling lever cannot be moved into such position as will apply the power to the car and that therefore, the car cannot be raised or lowered while the shaft gate is open. Y

Tn Figures 3 and l the action of the power controlling device upon ythe stop bar 5 is direct. VIn figure 5 is shown a construction wherein the level of the stop bar has been changed, being placed at some distante above the controller. In this case a slightly modified construction is employed. The cam lever 72.0f Figure 3 is changed in its construction. This change is chiefly in the omission of the horizontally extending rod 71 and the substitution therefor of a link as 8 which 'extends up or down as may be necessary, to a slide 8O which is provided with a ledge 81 of sufficient horizontal extent to engage both vofthe pins 70scarried by the controller. A spring as S2 serves to return these parts to normal position.

In connection with the above parts a circuit breaker may be employed, controlled by each of the shaft gates. This'may conveniently be in the form of a jack consisting of a plug or finger cairied by the shaft gate and inserted when the gate is closed between the two contact-members. Such a finger is shown at 9 in Figures l and 7 and the contact members at 90. These contact members are placed in series in one side of the power circuit. Such a device may be used as an additional safeguard to entirely cut the power off from the car when the gate is opened. Its use is however optional.

Such a circuit breaker controlled by the shaft gate may be employed withone only of the stop bars lwhich is described. Tn the device as shown in Figure 7 this has been done, the vertical stop bar l being the one employed. By using a device of this character the gate cannot be opened except when the car is at the proper limit of level andthe car cannot then be started until the gate has been closed. This may be sufficient safeguard to satisfy some conditions.

lNhat l claim as my invention is:

l. A safety device for elevators comprising a vertically extending bar and a horiront-ally projecting finger carried one by the car and the other by the shaft gate in positions to engage to prevent opening of the `said gate, said bar having a recess positioned to permit passage of the finger when the car is within the permissible variation from exact level with the landing, 'and a third safety Vmember carried by the car and movable by the power controller into positionto lock 'the shaft gates against opening when the power is on and engageable by the shaft gate to prevent placing the controller in power-on position when the gate is open.

2. A safety device for elevators comprising a vertically extending bar and a horizontally projecting finger carried one by the car and the other by the shaft gate in positions to engage to prevent opening of the said gate, said bar having a recess positioned to permit passage of the finger when the car is within the permissible variation from exact level with the landing, a third safety member carried by the car and projcctible into the path of the shaft gate to `prevent its opening, and means whereby this third member is controlled by the power controller.

3. A safety device for elevators comprisingl a vertically extending bar and a horizon.-

`tally projecting finger cari'ied one by the car and the lother bythe shaft gate in positions to engage to prevent opening of the said gate, .said bar having a recess positioned to permit passage of the nger when the car is fri within the permissible variation froml exact level with the landing, a horizontally extending bar mounted upon a common base with said vertical bar and in alinement with the .gap in the vertical bar., said horizontal bar being movable toward and from the car to thereby obstruct and free said gap for the passage of said linger, and means for controlling the position of said horizontal bar from the power controller.V

4. A'safety device 'for elevators comprising a stoo finger carried by the shaft gates, aY horizontal bar carried by the car in position to be alined with said stop finger when the car is leveled with the landing, and means controlled by the power controller to move said bar into the path of said finger to therelby prevent opening of the gate when the controller is in power-on position.

5. A safety device for elevators comprisiiiga stop finger and a horizontally extending bar mounted for movement toward and from the car, one of said parts being carried by the gate and the other by the car and vertically positioned to be in horizontal alinement when the car is leveled with the landing, and means controlled by the power congap adapted to permit passage of the finger` when the car is properly leveled, a horizontally extending bar carried by the car and movable towards and from the car, said latter bar being of a width and positioned to close said gapin the vertical stop bar when held outwardly from the car and of a length to cover the limit ofl backward movement of said stop finger, and means controlling the Voutward and inward movement of the hori- 1 zontal stop bar from the power controller.

7 A safety device for elevators comprising a stop finger carried by the gate and projecting towards the car, said nger being pivoted t0 lswing up and down, means for yieldingly holding said finger in horizontal' position.; a horizontally extending stop bar carried by tliecar and extending from near said finger when the gate yis closed to be-V yond the limit of travel of said finger when the Vgate is open, said bar being mounted to f jecting towards the car,r said finger being pivoted to swing up and down, means for yieldingly holding said finger `in horizontal position, a horizontally extending stopbar carried by the car and extending from near said finger when the gateis closed to beyond the limit of travel of Said fingerfwhen the gate is open, said bar being mounted to be moved towards and from the car, a lever mounted on the car and adaptedV to move said stop bar outwardly from the car, a pivoted controller lever on the car and fingersY carried by said controller lever and engaging said lever to throw said stop bar outward into stop position when the controller is placed in power-on position.

9. rin e device of the character described, a stop pin carriedv by the gate and extending horizontally in the direction lof movement of thegate in ,openinga stop finger pivoted upon said pin, a'spring acting to normally liold said finger extended horizon- .tally towards the car, and-a safety bar carried by the car and extending along the pathV of movement of said stop pin as the gate opens, and lmeans *controlled by the power controller to move said safety bar outward into the path of movement ofthe stop pin before applying the power.

1U. In a'safety device for elevators, a stop pin mounted upon thel gate and extending in the direction of movement of the gatev in opening, a stop fingery pivoted upon and movable lengthwise ofthe pin, a spring normally holding said finger toward the inner p end of the pin and projecting towards the car, and a vertically extending stop bar carried by the carin position to be placed in the path of said stop finger in openingthe gate when the carf is adjacent the proper landing level, said stopjbar having a gap for the free passage of the stop finger when the car is properly leveledand a horizon- 'tally placed stop bar projectible into the path of said finger when the gate is opened,

and means for so projecting saidV stop bar when the power is on.V i l1. In a safety device for elevators a stop llO pin mounted upon the gate and extending in the direction of movement of the gate in opening, a stop finger mounted to'slide and turn upon said pin, and a stop bar mounted upon the carin position when thecar is properlyv leveled to be alongside of the path of movement of the 4stop finger as the gate isV opened, Vand means for moving lsaid stop bar into position to occupy said Lpath of movement of the finger Ywhen the power controller is moved to apply power.

l2. A safety device for elevators having means for preventing openingof the shaft gates within a limited range of levelof the car above and below Vthe permissible landing level and means permittingclosing ofthe shaft gates at all levels.

1 3. A safety devicefor elevators having means for preventing opening of the shaft gates within a limited range of level of the car above and below the permissible landing level, means permitting closing of the shaft gates at all levels, and means for preventing the application of power when the gate is open.

14. A safety device for elevators comprising two members carried one upon the car and the other upon the shaft gate and positioned to be normally in adjacent but nonengageable positions as the car moves past the gates and to engage by the opening of the gate, one of said members having a considerable vertical extent and a very limited horizontal extent in the direction of the opening and closing movement of the gate and having a gap intermediate its ends for the `passage of the other member, said other member being of slight extent in the direction of the opening and closing movement of the gate and adapted to pass freely through said 15. A safety device for elevators comprising two members mounted, one upon the car and the other upon the shaft gate, said members being positioned to occupy interfering planes when the gates are opening and closing and to normally occupy closely adjacent non-interfering narrow paths during vertical movement of the car, one of said members being adapted to yield when engaging the other by relatively vertical movements, the other being of relatively considerable vertical extent and having a gap intermediate its ends for the free passage of the complemental member during opening and closing of the gate.

16. A safety device for elevators comprising two members mounted, one upon the car and the other upon the shaft gate, said mem-y bers being positioned to occupy interfering planes when the gates are opening and closing and to normally occupy closely adjacent non-interfering narrow paths during vertical movement of the car, one of said members being adapted to yield when'engaging the other by relatively vertical movements, the other being of relatively considerable vertical extent and having a gap intermediate its ends for the free passage of the complemental member during opening and closf ing of the gate, said yielding member also being yieldingly mounted to have a limited bodily movement in the direction of movement of the gates whereby contact with the Aother member will not prevent proper closure of the gate.

17. A safety device for elevators comprising a vertically extending bar and a horizontallyprojecting finger carried, one by the car and the other by the shaft gate and positioned to be engaged to prevent opening of said gate when the car is adjacent to its proper landing level, said bar having a gap permitting transverse passage of the pin when'the car is within permissible range of landing level, said pin being yieldingly mounted for limited movement transversely of the stop bar.

' 18. A safety -device for elevators comprising a vertically extending bar and a hori- Zontally projecting finger carried, one by the car and the other by the shaft gate and positioned to be engaged to prevent opening of said gate when the car is adjacent to its proper landing level, said bar having a gap permitting transverse passage of the pin when the car is within permissible range of landing level, said pin being yieldingly mounted for limited movement transversely of the st op bar, the pin and the top and bottom faces of the gap in the said bar having beveled surfaces adapted to engage to latterally move the pin on the closing movement of the door.

19. A safety device for elevators comprising a. vertically extending stop bar having a gaptherein and a. stop pin, o'ne carried by the car and the other by the shaft gate, said pin being positioned to register with and pass through said gap when the car is within permissible limits at the landing positions and being mounted for yielding movement sufficient to permit locking closure of the shaft gate in case the pin should engage the stop bar in closing the gate.

20. A safety device for elevators comprising a stop bar having separated upper and lower sections forming an intermediate gap and a stop pin mounted for yielding vertical swinging and limited yielding movement in the direction of the opening movement of the shaft gate, said stop bar and pin being carried one upon the car and the other upon lthe shaft gate and movable closely adjacent each other by the travel of the car.

Signed at Seattle, King County, lashington, this th day of April, 1922.

WILLIAM H. FOYE. 

